Following the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) scheduled nationwide Measles campaign for the thirty-six (36) States and the FCT in several phases in 2022, Edo State falls under the state implementation for November which has been slated to commence Tuesday 15th November 2022.
Parents have been advised to release their children for vaccination.
The call was made at the Media Engagement Meeting On Measles Campaign and Rota Virus Vaccination Introduction that was held At Hospitals Management Board Hall, In Benin City.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Director of Disease Control and Immunization (EDSPHCDA) Dr. Efeomon Eseigbe said that Measles is a very dangerous and highly infectious disease that is caused by a virus and can spread very easily from person to person.
He affirmed that the measles vaccine is safe for children, adding that the age frame targeted is for children below the age of five(5).
Dr. Eseigbe also noted that the introduction of the Rota vaccine into routine immunization would prevent children from diarrhea disease.
Also speaking, Dr. Amina Yahaya, UNICEF SBCC, said that the campaign would be implemented in two phases with phase one to be implemented in seven(7) LGAs which includes; Oredo, Egor, Ikpoba-okha, Orhionmwon, Uhunmwonde, Ovia North-East and Ovia South-West.
The second phase would cover Eleven(11)LGAs of the state which are; Owan West, Owan East, Akoko-Edo, Etsako East, Etsako West, Etsako Central, Esan North-East, Esan Central, Esan West, Igueben and Esan South-East.
Dr. Amina added that the Selected seven (7) Local Government Areas would commence implementation on the 15th —22nd of November 2022, while the last eleven(11)LGAs would also commence on the 25th —2nd of December 2022.
She said that a team of health workers would be stationed at fixed mobile posts at various health facilities across the state to administer the measles vaccine to children between the ages of 9 months to five(5) years.
Dr. Amina Yahaya thereafter urged parents to avail their children for vaccination as there would be temporally fixed vaccination posts in public places for easy accessibility.
